Diablo 3’s Team Deathmatch Gets Scrapped, Dueling Still a Go in Next Update

With Blizzard’s original player-versus-player plans not going as originally anticipated, Diablo 3‘s Team Deathmatch update will no longer be included in the upcoming 1.0.7 patch.

In an update to Diablo fans, Director Jay Wilson wrote,

We’ve been working really hard on the features, content, and systems for PvP in Diablo III and I wanted to take some time to provide an update on where we’re at. Of course, our goal has been to release our Team Deathmatch mode as soon as possible, but we don’t want to put anything out there before it’s ready. Right now, Team Deathmatch isn’t yet where we want it to be, and I want to provide some insight into where we are at in the development process.

Player-versus-player arenas were originally promised before Diablo 3’s release in the form of a future update. Having almost reached that point in time, it seems the decision has been made to cut what Blizzard feels is not up to the standards that Diablo fans have come to expect. Not entirely at a loss, Wilson explains the next few steps Blizzard will be taking:

First and foremost, if our original goal was to support dueling, then we’re not achieving that goal very well if we don’t actually give players a way to duel in-game. You’ve been asking us for dueling for a while, so we’re going to add it to the game soon. Dueling is currently scheduled to release with patch 1.0.7, which is set to hit sometime after the new year. (We’ll be providing details about that feature very soon, so stay tuned.)

But as I mentioned before, we are going back to the drawing board on a new replacement for Team Deathmatch, something that feels more appropriate for Diablo III. And as we stated previously, regardless of when we release it, it’ll be a free addition to the game. Team Deathmatch provided us with the foundation that we needed and served us well. Hell, it may even still be added in some form in the future. For now, though, we’re going to first be looking at new modes that play up to the strengths of the character classes, focus on objectives beyond just defeating other players, and possibly even integrate PvE elements and rewards.

well some wanted Team Deathmatch but many thought it was a cheap noneffective way to try to make more cash.

Wow-Diablo

they just dont release it because of wow , they want to reach old players back… so they can earn monthly… its not hard to set a multiplayer system, they just want to earn all money

http://www.facebook.com/awkenney Aaron Kenney

It sounds to me like Diablo III could have waited another year before it launched. Maybe two. Given all the balance changes and additions more than 6 months in. While I understand that the development schedule was already years in, I can’t really be like Activision here and include those years where Blizzard North created their alpha only to have it scrapped by the big dogs later. There are many times where I think Blizzard North could have done a better job than what the final product has become, if only they were given the time. I really have no faith in Blizzard anymore, and I’d rather put my chips on Runic Games and the Torchlight series.